Gusset for dishwasher cabinet



M. E. ULLMAN, JR., ETAL 3,268,283

GUSSET FOR DISHWASHER CABINET Aug. 23, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. lO, 1965 2O NU INVENTORS. MYRON E. ULLMAN, JR. 8 JERRY M. HARROFF BY ,A AT oRNEYs Aug 23, i966 M. E. ULLMAN, JR., ETAL. 3,268,283

GUSSET FOR DISHWASHER CABINET Filed Dec. lO. 1963 I2 "--/4O 78 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. MYRON E. ULLMAN, JR.

BYS JERRY M. HARROFF United States Patent O 3,268,283 GUSSET FOR DISHWASHER CABINET Myron E. Ullman, Jr., Mahoning, and Jerry M. Harroif, Columbiana, Ohio, assignors to Mullins Manufacturing Corporation, Salem, Ohio, a corporation of Ghio Filed Dec. 10, 1963, Ser. No. 329,578 7 Claims. (Cl. S12-263) This invention pertains to the art of cabinet construction and more particularly to a gusset for securing adjacent walls together, such as the walls of a dishwasher cabinet and the like.

The invention is particularly adapted for use in securing adjacent walls of a front loaded dishwasher cabinet together in a manner to obtain a rigid structure and will be described with particular reference thereto, although it will be appreciated that the invention may be used in conjunction with various types of structures in which it is desirable to secure adjacent members together in a manner to obtain rigid structure.

A front loaded dishwasher cabinet, to which the present invention is particularly adapted for application, may be defined by front side, left side, rear side, right side, top and bottom walls. The front wall of the cabinet takes the form of a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet whereby the door pivots at its bottom edge between an open or horizontal position and a closed or vertical position at which the door is in relatively water tight sealing engagement with the cabinet. The front side edge portions of the top wall, left side wall and rear side wall are flanged outwardly of the cabinet to form a peripheral shoulder or door frame for receiving the door when in its closed position. A rubber-like gasket is mounted on the inner peripheral surface edge of the door whereby with the door closed the gasket is seated on the door frame to provide a liquid-tight seal therewith.

It is desirable in assembling such a dishwasher cabinet that the left side, right side and top walls be secured together in a manner to form a relatively rigid self-supporting structure, and with the outwardly extending anges which define the door frame lying in the same plane whereby upon closure of the door an eicient liquid seal is obtained between the gasket and the door frame.

It is desirable from an economical viewpoint in manufacturing such dishwasher cabinets that the walls be fabricated from relatively thin metal sheets, as compared with heavier gauge sheet metal which is not only more expensive to purchase, but is more diicult to shape into the desired form, as well as constituting heavier shipping weight and related charges.

Still further, it is desirable in the manufacture of such dishwasher cabinets that the inner side of each wall be coated with vinyl resin or plastic so as to obtain a tough, durable, non-corrosive surface. Heretofore, in the manufacture of such dishwasher cabinets having vinyl coated walls, the cabinet is lirst assembled by spot welding adjacent walls together and thereafter the inwardly facing surfaces of the walls are sprayed with vinyl resin or plastic. This spray procedure frequently results in an uneven coating of the vinyl `and in some instances portions of the walls are not coated at all whereby after a period of dishwasher operation corrosion takes place. A more desirable method of manufacture of such a dishwasher cabinet is to apply sheets of vinyl resin lor plastic on one side of sheet metal strip, as by cementing, and then form the side walls and top walls from the vinyl coated sheet metal strip. Thereafter the adjacent walls defining the cabinet are secured -together in a manner to obtain 'a rigid self-supporting structure. But, it has been found that the vinyl coating on the walls acts as an insulator preventing the application of spot welding techniques for securing the walls together. Accordingly, means are required in 3,268,283 Patented August 23, 1966 ice ,assembling a dishwasher cabinet as described to secure adjacent walls together without resorting to spot welding techniques and the like in a manner to obtain a relatively rigid self-supporting structure.

The present invention is directed toward a novel gusset assembly for securing adjacent walls of a dishwasher cabinet together so as to obtain the desired features enumera-ted above.

In accordance with this invention a novel gusset assembly is provided for securing adjacent walls of 'a dishwasher cabinet of the desired construction, as described above, and comprises `a two-legged gusset plate having la channel formed in each leg of suflicient width and depth to receive a portion of the length of the outwardly extending flange of one of the side walls in the channel in one leg, and a portion of the outwardly extending ilange of the top wall in the channel in the other leg. The two legs of the gusset exhibit an angular relationship with respect to each other, corresponding with the desired `angular relationship of the side wall and top wall when assembled. Accordingly, by securing each flange portion to the corresponding leg portion, as by screws, the gusset plate will rigidly connect the walls together in the desired angular relationship with the flanges thereof lying in the same plane and defining a rigid structure.

According to vanother aspect of the invention, the gusset assembly includes a second or backing plate of greater thickness and rigidity than the gusset plate and disposed on the yopposite side of the flanges relative to that of the gusset plate. The backing plate includes a cabinet top mounting leg and a pair of backing legs extending therefrom, with each backing leg received in one of the channels in the gusset. The backing legs may be tightly secured to the anges of the two walls as by the screws connecting the gusset plate and flanges together.

In accordance with a still further `aspect of the invention, a pair of gusset assemblies, as described above, :secure the left and right side walls `of a dishwasher cabinet structure, as described above, to the top wall thereof so that the flanges of the three walls lie in the same plane whereupon with the door closed the gasket mounted on the door will seat firmly on the flanges, or door frame, so as to provide a liquid tight seal therewith.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a gusset assembly for securing adjacent cabinet walls together in a manner to obtain a rigid structure which is simple in construction and economical to manufacture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pair of gusset assemblies to secure relatively thin vinyl coated cabinet walls together in a manner to obtain a rigid self-supporting structure without resorting to spot welding techniques or the like.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description used to illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention, as read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a left side elevational view of -a dishwasher cabinet illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary enlarged front elevational view of the top portion of the caibinet with the door opened;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the top left corner of the cabinet shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of the top left corner portion of a cabinet shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary left side elevational view of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a rear elevational sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 8 is a plan sectional view taken along 8-8 of FIGURE 4.

Referring now to the drawings where the showings are for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only, and not for the purpose of limiting same, FIGURES 1 and 2 illustrate a dishwasher cabinet 10 of substantially rectangular cross section and dened by a top wall 12, a bottom wall 14, a rear side wall 16, a front side wall 18, a left side wall 20, and -a right side wall 22. The inwardly facing surfaces of the walls are coated with a sheet of vinyl resin or plastic 21 so as to obtain tough, durable, non-corrosive surfaces. Preferably, the left side wall 20, the right side wall 22 and the rear side wall 16 take the form of a continuous vinyl coated sheet metal strip bent twice to form three walls. The front side wall 18 also serves as a door and hereinafter will be referred to as such. The door 18 is pivotally mounted at its lower edge to the bottom wall 14 by means of a hinge 24, whereby the door may be selectively pivoted to an open position or a closed position, as shown in FIGURE l. The bottom wall 14 extends downwardly from its peripheral side edges terminating at and connected to a lower truncated sump wall 26 in communicating relationship with the interior of the cabinet 10. A water inlet line 28 is provided for directing water into the interior of cabinet 10 'and is controlled by a suitable valve and timing means (not shown). The'water inlet line 28 serves when the valve is open to direct water through anti-back siphon chambers 30 into the cabinet 10. Mounted directly below the cabinet 10 there is provided a water circulating mechanism (not shown) which serves to recycle water from the sump wall 26 through a perforated jet tower 32 -located within the cabinet 10 and connected onto the outlet of the water circulating mechanism by means of a recirculating line 34. Dishes and other utensils to -be washed are supported within the cabinet 10 on an upper dishrack 36 and a lower dishrack 38 which are positioned with respect to the jet tower 32 in such a manner that water spraying from the the perforations of the jet tower will impinge upon essentially all the surfaces of the dishes and utensils in the dishracks to wash and rinse them.

The top wall 12 is provided with an upwardly extending flange 40 across the entire length of its forward edge, as shown in FIGURE 2, as well as about its left, rear and right side edges.. The flange 40 is secured at its left, rear and right'side edge portions to the top inner surface portions of cabinet side walls 20, 16 and 22, respectively, as by cementing the vinyl coating 21 on flange 40 to the vinyl coating 21 on the inner surfaces of the cabinet side walls 16, and 22. The left side wall 20 of the cabinet 10 is also provided with an outwardly extending ilange 42 extending along the entire forward edge thereof. Also, the right side wall 22 is flanged in a manner identical to that of the left side Wall 20' to form a flange 44 extending along the entire forward edge of Wall 22. The flanges 42 and 44 and the front edge portion of ange 40 detine a door frame or shoulder 46 on which the door 18 is seated when in its closed position, as shown in FIG- URE l. A gasket 48 of rulbber like material, shown by phantom lines in FIGURE 2, is secured to the inner peripheral surface edge of the door 18 along the top and side edges of the door so that when the door is iirmly closed the gasket 48 seats on the door frame 46, in the manner las shown in FIGURE 2, to provide a Water tight seal between the door 18 and the door frame 46 to prevent leakage of water from the interior of the cabinet 10'. As

shown in FIGURE 2 the gasket 48 is provided with a top left corner bend 50 and a top right corner bend 52, which bends are preferably arcuate rather than right angle bends as the former exhibit more desirable sealing characteristics.

In accordance with this invention a pair of gusset assemblies 54 and S6 are provided for respectively securing the vinyl coated left side wall 20 and the vinyl coated right side wall 22 to the vinyl coated top wall 12 in a manner to obtain a rigid self-supporting structure with the walls 20 and 22 defining parallel planes perpendicular to the plane defined by top wall l2. Gusset assemblies 54 and S6 are substantially identical, the only difference being that corresponding parts are of opposite hand since gusset assembly 54 is adapted for use at the upper left hand corner and gusset lassembly S6 is adapted for use at the upper right hand corner of door frame 46 of cabinet 10. Accordingly, the following detailed description will be directed toward the structure of gusset assembly 54, it being understood that corresponding components of gusset assembly 56 are substantially identical but of opposite hand.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 through 8, gusset assembly 54 is shown in detail and comprises a gusset plate 58 and a gusset backing plate 60 of substantially greater thickness than plate S8. Preferably, plates 58 and 60 are constructed of sheet metal, such as steel, with plate 60 being of approximately twice the thickness of plate 58. Gusset plate 58 is L-shaped defining two leg portions 62 .and 64. Each of the leg portions 62 and 64 is recessed to provide a continuous L-shaped channel 66 in one side of the gusset plate 58. The channel 66 is bounded by substantially L-shaped outer and inner lianges 68 and 70 respectively. The bend portion of the L-shaped ilange 70 takes the form of a smooth arcuate bend rather than a right angle bend, as shown in FIGURE 7, and corresponds substantially with the radius of the arcuate bend 50 in the top left corner of gasket 48, as shown in FIG- URE 2.

Channel 66 in the gusset plate 58 is of sufficient width throughout leg portions 62 and 64 to respectively receive therein the width of ange portions 42 and 48 in the area of the top left corner portion of door frame 46. Preferably, the leg portions 62 and 64 of gusset plate 58 extend in perpendicular directions relative to each other and that the outer and inner anges 68 and 70, respectively, are in parallel relationship with each other in leg portions 62 and 64. In this manner channel 66 extends in perpendicular directions, as illustrated in FIGURE 7. With this construction when the flange portions 40 and 42 of top wall 12 and left side wall 28 are respectively received in the channel 66 in the leg portions 64 and 62, the outer and inner walls 68 and 7G bounding channel 66 will align the flanges 40 and 42 relative to each other whereby walls 12 and 20 attain perpendicular relationship. Threaded bolts 72 and 74 are threaded through gusset plate 58 and flanges 42 and 40, respectively, to thereby secure walls 20 and 12 together in a manner to obtain a rigid self-supporting structure.

The gusset assembly backing plate 60 comprises an L-shaped structure including a relatively dat cabinet top mounting leg 76 having a slot 78 therein for receiving a screw or the like whereby the plate may be secured to a counter top 80, shown in phantom lines in FIGURE l. Gusset backing plate 60 is also provi-ded with a pair of parallel legs 80 and l82, extending downwardly from leg 76, as viewed in FIGURE 3. Intermediate leg 76 and the legs 80 and S2 the backing plate 60 is provided with a bend 84 defining a recess 86 relative to legs 80 and 82. The depth s of recess 86 is sutiicient as compared with the depth d of channel 66 so that the outer ilange 68 of gusset plate S8 may be received in the recess 86 when the gusset assembly is mounted on door frame 46, in the manner as shown in FIGURE 5. Also, the depth d of channel 66 is greater than the combined thickness of backing plate 60 and shoulder 46.

The legs 80 and 82 extend downwardly from the bend 84 in the backing plate 6i), and are spaced from each other by a distance c, as shown in FIGURE 8, which distance is somewhat greater than the combined thickness of vinyl coated side wall 20 and the vinyl coated left side portion of flange 40, together with the cement securing the vinyl surfaces together. A slot 88 is provided in the top edge portion of wall 20 and left side portion of flange 40 in the area adjacent outwardly turned flange 42. The backing plate 60 may be aligned relative to gusset plate 58 by straddling legs 80 and 82 on either side of the wall 20 and left side portion of flange 40 at the slot 88, as is shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 8. Thereafter, the backing plate 60 may be tightly clamped to door frame 46 and gusset plate 58 by aligning threaded apertures 9i) and 92 in legs 80 and 82, respectively, with threaded bolts 72 and 74 and then with suitable tools threading the bolts through the threaded apertures.

Whereas leg 82 extends generally in a perpendicular direction from leg 76 so as to be essentially parallel with flange 40, leg 80 may be inclined from such a perpendicular relationship toward flange 42 by a slight angle in the order of 3. With this construction, leg 82 is resiliently biased toward flange 42 so that when bolts 72 and 74 are tightened to clamp the gusset assembly to the shoulder 46, leg 80 resiliently bears against flange 42. In this manner leg 80 positively maintains the left corner portion of shoulder 46 aligned with channel 66 in gusset plate 58, as well as providing a rigid interconnection therebetween. To further increase the rigidity of the interconnection between the top left corner of shoulder 46 and gusset assembly 54, apertures 90 and 92 extending through legs 80 and 82, respectively, are formed identical to and aligned with corresponding inwardly flanged apertures in gusset plate 58 and in flanges 42 and 40, as shown in FIGURE 8.

By constructing the dishwasher cabinet 10 with a pair of gusset assemblies 54 and 56, respectively, connecting vinyl coated walls 2f) and 22 to the vinyl coated top wall 12, a rigid self-supporting structure is obtained. Still further, by constructing the gusset plate 58 of each gusset assembly of relatively thin gauge sheet metal, it will be observed from FIGURE 8 that with the door 18 rmly closed the gasket 48 seats on both the gusset assemblies 54 and 56 in a manner that a continuous liquid tight seal is obtained between the gasket and the door frame 46. Thus, for example, if the thickness of gusset plate 64 was of a substantially greater thickness, a slight gap would exist between the gusset and the door frame 46 at the ends of legs 62 and 64, resulting in an inefficient seal. Still further, it will be observed from FIGURE 2 that by constructing the gusset plates 58 with an arcuate bend in the inner flange 70 rather than a sharp right angle bend, a structure is provided whereby the gasket 48 may have similar arcuate bends 50 and 52.

The present invention has been described in connection with a particular structural embodiment which has proven satisfactory in use; however, it is appreciated that the structural embodiment may be modified without departing from the intended spirit and scope of the invention as deflned in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cabinet having a rear side, left side, right side and top walls constructed of sheet metal, said cabinet walls being formed with the sides facing inwardly, each said cabinet wall having a flange along one edge thereof, a pair of securing means for respectively securing the flange of the left side wall and the flange of the right side wall to the llange of the top wall to obtain a relatively rigid structure, each said secu-ring means including a substantially L-shaped gusset plate with each leg portion thereof having a channel formed therein on the same side of the gusset plate of sufllcient width and depth for receiving a portion of the flange of one of said side walls in the channel in one leg portion and a portion of the flange of said top wall in the channel in said other leg portion, and a gusset backing plate of greater thickness and rigidity than said gusset plate and having a pair of backing plate leg portions each adapted to be received in the channel of one of the leg portions of said gusset plate outwardly of and adjacent to a portion of the llange of one of said walls.

2. In a cabinet having a rear side, left side, right side and top walls constructed of sheet metal, said cabinet walls being formed with the sides facing inwardly, each said cabinet wall having a flange along one edge thereof, a pair of securing means for respectively `securing the flange of the left side wall and the flange `of the right side wall to the flange of the top wall to obtain a relatively rigid structure, each said securing means including a substantially L-shaped gusset plate with each leg portion thereof having a channel formed therein on the same side of the gusset plate `of sufficient width and depth for receiving a portion of the flange of one of said side walls in the channel in one leg portion and a portion of the flange of said top Wall in the channel in said other leg portion, and a gusset backing plate having a pair of backing plate leg portions thereof each adapted to be received in the channel of one of the leg portions of said gusset plate outwardly of and adjacent to a portion of the flange of one of said walls, said backing plate being of greater thickness and rigidity tha-n said gusset plate and including a cabinet top mounting leg whereby said backing plate may-be secured to a cabinet top.

3. In a cabinet as claimed in claim 2, wherein one of Said backing plate leg portions is substantially perpendicularly aligned with said mounting leg.

4. In a cabinet as claimed in claim 3, wherein said other backing plate leg portion is inclined at an acute angle relative to said mounting leg and resiliently biased toward and adapted to engage one of said flanges of said walls received in the channel in one of the leg portions of said gusset plate.

5. A gusset assembly for use with a dishwasher cabinet having right and left side walls and a top wall each including a flange extending along one edge thereof adapted to lie in a common plane defining a front opening and a door closable in the opening including sealing means continuously engageable with the flanges in sealing relationship when in a closed position, said gusset assembly comprising an L-shaped gusset plate having a corresponding L-shaped channel formed in one side thereof adapted to receive portions of the flanges of -said top and side walls at the juxtaposition thereof and the opposite side of the gusset plate being engageable with the sealing means with the door in a closed position, a gusset backing plate having a pair of backing leg portions of greater thickness and rigidity than said gusset plate receivable in said channel, said gusset plate being sulliciently thin to cooperate with said flanges to maintain a continuous seal with said sealing means and means for tightly clamping said plates on opposite sides of said top and side wall flanges.

`6. A gusset assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said backing plate includes a mounting leg extending therefrom transversely of said Ibacking leg portions.

7. A gusset assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein one of said backing leg portions is in perpendicular Irelationship with said mounting leg and said other lbacking leg portion is inclined at an acute angle relative to said mounting leg.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 973,643 10/1910 Ferry 160-363 987,046 3/1911 Cary 20-92 1,064,450 6/1913 Davison 40-152 2,438,108 3/1948 Barler et al. 312-351 2,443,515 6/ 1948 Rockwell 312-324 v2,973,809 3/1961 Sklar 160-206 3,087,459 4/1963 Dirck 220-84 X 3,174,815 3/1965 Drew et al 20-92 X CLAUDE A. LE ROY Primary Examiner.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Examiner.

F. DOMOTOR, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3, 268, 283 August 23, 1966 Myron E.. Ullman, Jr., et alD It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

In the heading to the printed Specification, line 5, for "a corporation of Ohio" read a corporation of Delaware Signed and sealed this 28th day of November 1967.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J BRENNER Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

1. IN A CABINET HAVING A REAR SIDE, LEFT SIDE, RIGHT SIDE AND TOP WALLS CONSTRUCTED AT SHEET METAL, SAID CABINET WALLS BEING FORMED WITH THE SIDES FACING INWARDLY, EACH SAID CABINET WALL HAVING A FLANGE ALONG ONE EDGE THEREOF, A PAIR OF SECURING MEANS FOR RESPECTIVELY SECURING THE FLANGE OF THE LEFT SIDE WALL AND THE FLANGE OF THE RIGHT SIDE WALL TO THE FLANGE OF THE TOP WALL TO OBTAIN A RELATIVELY RIGID STRUCTURE, EACH SAID SECURING MEANS INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLY L-SHAPED GUSSET PLATE WITH EACH LEG PORTION THEREOF HAVING A CHANNEL FORMED THEREIN ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE GUSSET PLATE OF SUFFICIENT WIDTH AND DEPTH FOR RECEIVING A PORTION OF THE FLANGE OF ONE OF SAID SIDE WALLS IN THE CHANNEL IN ONE LEG PORTION AND A PORTION OF THE FLANGE OF SAID TOP WALL IN THE CHANNEL IN SAID OTHER LEG PORTION AND A GUSSET BACKING PLATE OF GREATER THICKNESS AND RIGIDITY THAN SAID GUSSET PLATE AND HAVING A PAIR OF BACKING PLATE LEG PORTIONS EACH ADAPTED TO BE RECEIVED IN THE CHANNEL OF ONE OF THE LEG PORTION OF SAID GUSSET PLATE OUTWARDLY OF AND ADJACENT TO A PORTION OF THE FLANGE OF ONE OF SAID WALLS. 